The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Black woman who died in 1951 from cervical cancer at age 31. Prior to her death, a sample of her tumor was taken, and without her knowledge or consent, given to a tissue culture scientist who was attempting to find cells that would survive indefinitely in the laboratory. Henrietta’s cells did just that, signaling a medical and scientific breakthrough, and subsequently launching a multimillion dollar industry of which her family was unaware, and from which they never received compensation.

Speakers

David Lacks Jr. is the grandson of Henrietta Lacks and son of David “Sonny” Lacks. David possesses a degree in computer information systems and has traveled around the United States and Canada setting up computer systems and labs for companies and educational institutions. He lends his talent to helping create and maintain the Lacks family website. David represents the Lacks family on the National Institute of the Health’s panel that reviews applications to conduct research using the HeLa genome.

Shirley Lacks is Henrietta Lacks’ daughter-in-law and Deborah’s childhood best friend. Since retiring from the banking industry, Shirley dedicates much of her time traveling around the country, keeping Henrietta’s legacy alive. Shirley has three children and five grandchildren.

ADVANCED RCR TRAINING: Doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers who have an RCR compliance requirement due to funding by an NIH training grant or a NSF research grant must complete the online Introductory (Step 1) & Intermediate (Step 2) RCR training modules before participating in the four Advanced RCR live workshops. Grant funded individuals, meanwhile, are required to complete Steps 1 and 2 within 30 days of the start of funding and to complete all four live, advanced RCR workshops within two years.

All other doctoral and post-doctoral researchers who will be taking advanced RCR training, including those who are meeting a departmental mandate, must also first complete Steps 1 and 2 before registering for the four workshops. Doctoral students should complete all four workshops by the end of their fourth year. Postdoctoral researchers are recommended to complete Steps 1 and 2 as early as possible and commence the four RCR workshops in the semester in which online preparation is completed. We recommend that they complete the four workshops at the rate of at least one workshop per semester.

COMPLETING ONLINE STEPS 1 and 2:

Step 1: Introductory RCR Principles
1. Log in to your Blackboard Learn homepage
2. Click on the second tab: All Blackboard Learn Courses
3. On the left hand side of the All Blackboard Learn Courses page search for “RCR”
4. Select Introductory Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (Ongoing) from the list and follow directions

Step 2: Intermediate RCR Principles
1. Sign up for a CITI Account
2. Affiliate with Boston University (please note that if you affiliate with Boston University Medical Campus through CITI, you will not be able to access the RCR course)
3. Click “Add a Course or Update Learner Groups”
4. Select “Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR Courses)”
5. Select “BU RCR Program for Doctoral candidates and Post-Docs: All Audiences”

New Degree Program Focuses on Health Sciences Education

This October, anewprogram – the Master’s of Science in Health Sciences Education (MSHSE) – was unanimously approved by BU School of Medicine,the University Council Committee on Graduate Programs and Policiesand the University Council. Theprogram is offered through the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS), in collaboration with the School of Education (SED); Jeffrey Markuns, MD,EdM, assistant professorofFamily Medicine servesas Program Director. Recruitment is underway for the inaugural class, who will matriculate in fall 2017. For more information, go to http://www.bumc.bu.edu/msed/hse/

The program offers those with degrees in nursing, medicine and other health-related areas anopportunityto pursue graduate studies in medical education. The MSHSE provides training in the principles of education and teaching that are applicable and adaptable to a specific health sciences discipline. It is designed to improve teaching skills and other aspects of health sciences education to help students advance their careers.

“This program will educate and train faculty from all the health professional fields who are committed to establishing themselves as master educators,” said Markuns. “The broad range of required courses along with a mentored practicum will produce world-class faculty in health sciences education.”

A certificate option is available for those with limited time and resources or who already have a strong background in general education, as well as the part- and full-time options to pursue the Master’s degree The certificate and Master’s degree options are available for the tuition remission benefit for eligible BU faculty and staff The program is expected to be initiated on campus in the classroom, but then students will be able to pursue a schedule that allows for part-time participation. Practicum based, it isdesigned for students to applynew skills from their studies directly to issues they already are seeking to tackle in their daily work.

The MSHSE provides numerous benefits to the University:

It provides an opportunity for those faculty interested in developing additional skills in teaching and education to pursue an advanced degree directly relevant to their daily work using BU tuition remission.

The program raises the profile of educational faculty throughout BU and creates new partnerships with educators from throughout the institution.

With an eye towards additional distance-learning options, the MSHSE offers faculty development mechanisms for internationalteachers in the health sciences from institutions around the world.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Certificate and Master’s in Health Sciences Education are offered through the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS), in collaboration with the School of Education (SED), plus electives offered in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health

On behalf of the Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership and the Biomedical Science Careers Program (BSCP), we are asking for your help in identifying fellows/students (particularly African-American, Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals) involved in biomedical or health-related scientific research who would benefit from presenting their research projects at the sixteenth annual New England Science Symposium (NESS) to be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 7:30AM to 4:30PM at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

There is no registration fee for this symposium, but pre-registration is required.

GMS is holding a book drive for the youth-run bookstore training program, More Than Words! This organization strives to empower youths in struggling situations so that they can take charge of their lives through business development.

There is a large bin in the GMS Office, L-317, where we ask that you drop off any books, CDs, and DVDs that you’d like to donate to the cause. There is no genre or age limit in terms of content; however, if you are leaving a textbook, please only leave if it was published or re-edited in the last five years. Please refer to this file for more detailed guidelines on what materials to donate.